Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 06 May 2024 at 13:28
This week's We Are EEAST Briefing and Executive Q&A was led by CEO Tom Abell.
Introduction from Tom
Starts @ 00:09
Ends @ 06:42
Questions
Q1 - It seems to take ages for actions concerning rostering to take place, for example I have a new recruit this week that still isn’t showing on GRS, she has had three weeks of training and I presume she must have given notice to her previous employer so we had approx. seven weeks to get her on the system but she still isn’t on which looks very unprofessional when she starts for us not to be able to give her shifts, especially as recent changes requires to give 12 weeks’ notice of shifts.
Starts @ 06:43
Ends @ 08:29
Additional information from Zoe Collis - In relation to the rostering question and length of time to get someone into the GRS system. It is a great time to familiarise ourselves with the extensive onboarding tasks that need to be completed. The team cannot put a new starter or make changes to any existing employees until the forms are processed in HR, entered onto ESR and shared with the team. This is to ensure that the 2 systems are accurate, and staff are paid correctly. Thank you.
Q2 - I speak on behalf of my AEMT cohort in west Suffolk area. We would like to know when the pay uplift will be sorted out for the EMT's that have been denied their pay/band uplift/increase to senior tech. This has hardly been fair as some of the same cohort have had this and some haven’t, and we believe this has happened across the board.
We first had our training interrupted because of Covid. We were deployed onto first line duties in the middle of training. We then had our training interrupted because the training was taken over by MediPro and within the transition period no portfolios could be marked etc putting dates to final submission, ride outs and End Point Assessments out. Our cohort should have had this all sorted by last October and here we are now still waiting for "the decision" to be made.
The last we heard about pay was, it was sitting with the executive members to make a decision. Please make a decision and pay us the money we work hard for.
Starts @ 08:30
Ends @ 09:36
Q3 - With the retirement of our lead chaplain, what does this mean for the chaplaincy service moving forward? It has always been an integral independent part of our pastoral care and credit must be paid to the service and dedication of Lynda and her team.
Starts @ 09:38
Ends @ 10:36
Q4 - Hi Tom, what is being done about the considerable amount of secondments that are ending in March? Thank you.
Starts @ 10:38
Ends @ 11:11
Q5 - Hi Tom, great news with all of our metrics finally seem to be moving in the right direction, most specifically with our LGBT+ and Disability engagements, however, there are two very important points - Where is the promised Men's support network and why won’t this have parity with the other focus groups and secondly, we also have a group of ageing workers and whilst it is hugely important that the NHS at large are acknowledging this and have implemented important frameworks, what are the trust doing to support older staff (i.e. over 50/55s).
Starts @ 11:13
Ends @ 13:45
Additional information - Recruitment for roles within the men's wellbeing network is still ongoing. Once this has been completed the network will be open for members to join. More information will be published on Need to Know when available.
Q6 - Hello, can we confirm that accepting the Senior EMT role and increase in banding, carries with it the obligation to supervise/mentor/train as a PEd. And pass on the wealth of knowledge and experience to our learners please? Same with our "Senior" Paramedics who accepted the banding increase.
Starts @ 13:47
Ends @ 14:29
Q7 - I know you won't be able to do much, but what can I do to get an update on my lease car? It has been on order for over 12 months, Fleet give no updates, not even a build date. Yet other managers have received cars far quicker even though they have been ordered recently.
Starts @ 14:30
Ends @ 15:20
Q8 - When will the new courses for the managers passport be in place?
Starts @ 15:22
Ends @ 15:49
Q9 - The downturn in calls has been a national trend, what in particular do the board feel they have done to impact this? We still attend calls that should never have got through triage and should have been dealt with by our primary care partners.
Starts @ 15:51
Ends @ 19:05
Q10 - Good afternoon Tom, as a manager I am repeatedly told by recruitment and the head of recruitment I cannot fill a role without it going on TRAC and being interviewed for, this includes secondments, development opportunities and extending secondments. Can you please tell me how Liz Cunnell has been slotted into the Wellbeing Manager's role? I have not seen this on the jobs page at all. Does this mean I can slot people in my team into any role that requires filling if it is a short period whilst we recruit?
Starts @ 19:07
Ends @ 20:21
Q11 - When we sadly loose one of our colleagues or volunteers would it not be appropriate to consider a posthumous award to thank them for service. Perhaps in a similar way to other uniformed services with a presentation service flag.
Starts @ 20:23
Ends @ 20:49
Q12 - Is there a fleet update surrounding Merc replacements? Also relating to the effected staff, what is being arranged for them? There are currently rumours they will face termination of employment depending on grade which of course is a massive worry.
Starts @ 21:09
Ends @ 22:05
Q13 - Hello Tom, a lot of areas have mitigation for someone (usually a LOM that is moved to non-patient facing duties) to support the training and education preceptorship requirements to support learners in the locality as this is an arduous task alongside the LOM role.
Starts @ 22:11
Ends @ 23:28
Q14 - Hi, why do people continuously get knocked back when wanting to further their careers when they are part time? Bosses just won't want to know unless they are full time. Why don't people be more open to job shares??
Starts @ 23:50
Ends @ 24:46
Q15 - Is there currently an update surrounding advanced practice training you spoke of a little while ago in relation to CCP/UCP cars?
Starts @ 24:48
Ends @ 25:52
Q16 - Can relief staff have more of a structured pattern i.e., two days two nights four off etc, and possible regular crew mates similar to lines to cut down on when crews are late off and working with someone different the next day having crews waiting for their crew mates to come in late sometimes three or four crews waiting.
Starts @ 25:55
Ends @ 27:04
Q17 - Hello Tom, as AGM/GM roles are not being filled permanently and only on a secondment basis, are we expecting a restructure in the coming year?
Starts @ 27:08
Ends @ 27:48
Q18 - Why has there been a change in the boots supplied by the new clothing supplier from Magnum to cheap rubbish? We are on our feet for 12 - 14 hours at least give us some decent foot wear to help with ongoing staff health.
Starts @ 27:50
Ends @ 28:21
Q19 - Three weeks to go until the start of the new F1 season. Who are you routing for this year?
Starts @ 28:23
Ends @ 28:52
Q20 - With Ford returning to F1 do you have a view on the likelihood of another red bull run away or do you fancy a resurgent Mercedes or another left field option?
Starts @ 28:54
Ends @ 29:20
Q21 - Related to the previous question/comment on a dedicated T&E Lead LOM, appreciating these essential positions have been "informally" present since 2012, is there a plan in the Ops structure to make them formal with a related KPI and protected time to do the role justice?
Start @ 29:21
Ends @ 30:03
Q22 - What does it say about the state of our well-being service when we cannot recruit and keep a leader for this invaluable service that has always been underestimated?
Starts @ 30:06
Ends @ 31:01
Q23 - I have been told by two external sources that a person called Steve West is joining EEAST as the Director of Planning and Performance. I have not heard this in EEAST and wonder where the notification to staff was. What is the role and is it permanent?
Starts @ 31:06
Ends @ 32:41
Q24 - At this current time we have over 1,500 volunteers’, the majority of these are CFR's. Do the Trust have future plans to increase support, training and management of them? Are there any steps that need input from road staff to support in this? These volunteer staff are, I believe, a key component in patient centred care, also community ties with EEAST.
Starts @ 32:43
Ends @ 34:26
Q25 - We do not appear to have the info graph shared in relation the previous months stats anymore. It would be good to have this reintroduced and perhaps should include information such as our mean response times for different types of calls as well as average offload times.
Starts @ 34:28
Ends @ 35:05
Additional information - Hi there, many thanks for your question, the next Monthly Performance Dashboard will be published on Monday 13th.
Q26 - Is there any update for the introduction of Penthrox across the trust. I believe a successful pilot has been completed. This is a very good analgesic and could reduce the need for multiple resources to some jobs for pain relief.
Starts @ 35:07
Ends @ 35:39
Q27 - Following up on the boot question, our locality has over 100 outstanding uniform orders and have been told that the new supplier who won the national contract has a defective ordering portal. What is being done to address this?
Starts @ 35:42
Ends @ 36:34
Q28 - The purchase orders for the chassis for the MAN x10 and Ford x10 have been completed. They are due with the respective converters July/August for build and the intention currently is that they will be back in country for use in operations around October. We have permission now for three electric ambulances which may also be at deliverable at the same time.
Starts @ 36:36
Ends @ 37:24
Q29 - Although it is only February, Christmas is coming and BBR means that an element of rotas, that do not move on year by year, will see the same staff off and the same few working fighting for the one or two available leave slots. THIS IS GROSSLY UNFAIR, and nothing has been done to address it...
Starts @ 37:26
Ends @ 38:58
Q30 - Managers workload is unbearable - most are working seven days a week, using their rest days to catch up on admin. Although Cathy's team are doing a great job capturing this evidence, what is actually being done to address it?
Starts @ 39:00
Ends @ 40:08
Q31 - On the Senior EMT upbanding and obligations of the role to mentor/supervise/and train as a PEd, we understand that that part of the role has recently been removed (or not enforced)?
Starts @ 40:13
Ends @ 40:33
Q32 - Why do we still have so many secondments? This is really unsettling for the team. When people take secondments outside of the Trust, it has a huge domino effect, this needs to be addressed as people are looking for jobs elsewhere.
Starts @ 40:36
Ends @ 41:44
Q33 - SECAMB have now started to have civilian co-responders. Joining LAS and EMAS. There seems to be no appetite for a similar scheme in EEAST. Any reason why?
Starts @ 41:46
Ends @ 42:46
Additional information - SECAMB to trial new volunteer emergency responder role
Q34 - Why is it when we are struggling to recruit and retain staff in certain areas are other areas that are oversubscribed being made to take new starters?
Starts @ 42:49
Ends @ 43:52
Q35 – Steve West - Thought I would say Hi as I have been mentioned by one attendee. Also, I have some ideas on moving away from relief working going forward I am keen to explore.
Starts @ 43:56
Ends @ 44:14
Q36 - We have a large number of CFRs that are logging on within the Trust, manning Trust vehicles - we are at a risk of these becoming unpaid workers by default - I feel we need to improve their offer with a defined access training course to ECA should they wish - thoughts please?
Starts @ 44:15
Ends @ 45:05
Q37 - Would it be possible on the GRS front to look at bank and relief staff seeing who they are crewing with? Everyone else is able to, why not these groups type of approach?
Starts @ 45:07
Ends @ 45:44
Q38 - Regarding David Sexbys comment, I was wondering who is designing the patient area of these vehicles as the Fiat model has many issues and wasn't a good design. Will there being genuine input from staff that actually work on the vehicles?
Starts @ 45:45
Ends @ 46:33
Additional information - The 'patient area' is prescribed now by the national specification with very little scope given to Trusts to amend them. The Trust will continue as it always has to involve operational staff and staff side representatives in key decisions where we have scope to make them.
Q39 - Would it be possible to show all staff the amount of calls that are dealt with through ECAT to show the amount of calls that we are finding ACP?
Starts @ 46:34
Ends @ 47:20
Q40 - A little side note also, would it be possible to look at getting advanced roles requirements and competencies written somewhere? Specifically, along the lines of portfolios, I'm purely thinking about the forward steps of my own development and current self-funded MSc offers I hold. This would be great to be looked at, e.g., how self-funding staff would be integrated.
Starts @ 47:21
Ends @ 48:10
Q41 - With the end of the financial year only being seven weeks away, is there an update on Marcus returning (or not) considering a Band 7 has to give 12 weeks’ notice, there must be an idea on what is occurring?
Starts @ 48:13
Ends @ 48:39
Q42 - Please could you advise if the Business and Project support Managers are to be continued past the end of March?
Starts @ 48:40
Ends @ 49:00
Q43 - With the new financial calendar getting close, is there any progress update on the idea of the "thank you"/retention bonus for our experienced staff who are leaving in great numbers due to better salaries and "golden handshakes" in other Trusts doing the same role? More cost efficient than training a brand-new inexperienced workforce. Thanks.
Starts @ 49:03
Ends @ 49:58
Q44 - Can we have assurances that whatever form the new ambulances take, they will have heating and power systems that are fit for purpose? This is one of many areas that the Fiat fall short on.
Starts @ 50:19
Ends @ 50:59
Additional information - The heating in the ambulance is prescribed by the CEN standards at a 5Kw heater and as such is pretty standard across all ambulances. Power wise this is increasingly limited by two factors, changing emission regulations which make the manufacturer more responsible for what the vehicle actually emits post conversion and secondly the increase demands that the 'ambulance' part of the conversion places on the base vehicle. There was never a design intention that an ambulance would sit outside A&E repeatedly for 8+ hours and this is causing most Trusts vehicle fault/staff/ patient concerns.
Q45 - Are there any plans to look at the rotas etc again in a BBR style exercise? It seems that supply does not meet demand.
Starts @ 51:01
Ends @ 52:02
Q46 - This week a family member was taken to hospital. I just wanted to thank everyone involved from HUC, the call handlers, dispatcher, crew and hospital.
Starts @ 52:05
Ends @ 52:21
Q47 - Is there any update surrounding strikes given the GMB result?
Starts @ 52:48
Ends @ 53:27
Close from Tom
Starts @ 53:29
Ends @ 53:50
You can catch up on previous We Are EEAST Briefings on our Archive page. You can also catch up on Local Manager's Briefings here.
Published 13th February 2023